Youth Engagement

Waipahu High School- HarmonizedGAP Food Safety Certification and sharing success at the 2026 WeGrow Hawaiʻi Youth Food Summit

“It was a privilege to support Sherlene, a senior at Waipahu High School, as she shared her journey through food safety certification at the WeGrow Hawaiʻi Youth Food Summit. As manager of her school’s hydroponics and microgreens farm, Sherlene played a leading role in achieving certification, working closely with Hawaiʻi GroupGAP [North Shore EVP] on the farm plan, maintaining records, and actively participating in all meetings related to the school farm. It was inspiring to hear her reflect on this experience and to see her emerging as a leader in Hawai‘i’s food security movement, inspiring other youth through her dedication and example.” – Ingrid Dufford, Hawaiʻi GroupGAP Food Safety Specialist

Waipahu High School students working in an indoor hydroponic grow room with vertical racks, LED grow lights, and leafy greens as part of a youth agricultural program (NSEVP Youth Engagement).

NSEVP youth engagement participants and program supporters posing together outdoors at a community event in Hawaii.

Student presenting NSEVP youth engagement and indoor hydroponic growing project results to an audience, with grow room and crop images displayed on screen.

School Food Safety Challenge

Our School Garden Food Safety Challenge is focused on engaging students in learning more about food safety practices by actually implementing them in their school gardens, while documenting their food safety activities in google sheets workbooks.

At the end of each challenge year (2023, 2024, 2025) students will report on the success of their gardens and food safety records will be evaluated based on completeness of data, consistency, and participation.

Monetary prizes are awarded to participating campuses to purchase supplies and tools for their gardens!

Here are some pictures from one of the schools in our challenge, Waipahu Intermediate!

Vegetables in raised garden boxes - North Shore Economic Vitality Partnership Hawaii

Group of Hawaiian youth in vegetable garden - NSEVP

Green onions and other vegetables - North Shore Economic Vitality Partnership Hawaii

In July 2024, North Shore EVP organized a module for the Hawaiʻi AgDiscovery 2024 program. Thirteen Hawaiʻi AgDiscovery students were hosted at Diamond Head Market and Grill, a new member of our cohort. The students toured the farm, learning about its history from the farm manager and owner, Kelvin Ro, an award-winning chef. Kelvin and his farm manager explained the importance of food safety on the farm, its history, and the farm-to-restaurant process.

Our North Shore EVP Food Safety Specialist discussed USDA auditing processes and our role in supporting farmers. We invited Dr. Anya from the USDA FSIS to share her experiences inspecting farms and working with animals. Additionally, two employees from the Hawaiʻi Foodservice Alliance spoke about their roles in the largest local supplier to Hawaiʻi’s grocery stores.

To conclude the visit, the students participated in a lei-making activity with Dillan, the farm manager. Overall, the module was a resounding success, with students rating all activities very highly. We look forward to continuing our collaboration with AgDiscovery in the coming years!